A former SAS soldier from Inverness is to kayak 600 miles around Scotland to raise money for the Armed Forces charity SSAFA.
Richard McKenzie, the Army Protection Officer for The Royal Regiment of Scotland, is taking on the challenge next month.
The mammoth expedition will begin in the Caithness town of Wick, circle around northern Scotland, cutting inland through the Caledonian Canal and back to Wick.
Richard hopes to raise £50,000 pounds for SSAFA.
After 30 years in the army, he volunteered as branch secretary for SSAFA Caithness before he started a new role at Fort George with the Royal Regiment of Scotland in 2016.
He’s seen first-hand the good work that SSAFA does to support the Armed Forces community in Scotland.
Richard is calling local members of the community to help him along the way, saying: “I’m hoping that the local communities on the route will help me out along the way.
“I’d love it if locals could come down and keep me company or bring some extra food so I don’t have to live off army rations for a whole month.”
Jim Morrison, head of community fundraising at SSAFA, said: “We are so grateful that Richard is raising money for SSAFA through this incredibly challenging expedition. The money raised will go a very long way in helping us support the military community”.
SSAFA provides lifelong support to those currently serving, veterans and their families.
Through its dedicated network of volunteers across the country, SSAFA offers practical, emotional and financial help to the Armed Forces community in their hour of need.
Visit Richard’s JustGiving page to donate:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/old-timers-haul-ass